[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16002-16003]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2642, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND 
               VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
  (1) it be in order at any time for the Speaker, as though pursuant to 
clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, to declare the House resolved into the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 2642) making appropriations for 
military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other 
purposes, which shall proceed according to the following order:
  The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with.
  All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived 
except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1 
hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under 
the 5-minute rule.
  Points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply 
with clause 2 of rule XXI are waived.
  Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill may 
be offered except:
  Pro forma amendments offered at any point in the reading by the 
chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations 
or their designees for the purpose of debate;
  An amendment by Mr. Hayes regarding funding for BRAC 2005;
  An amendment by Mr. Blumenauer or Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida 
regarding funding for BRAC 1990;
  An amendment by Mr. Price of Georgia regarding funding for VA medical 
services;
  An amendment by Mr. Franks of Arizona regarding the conduct of 
studies of missile defense;
  An amendment by Mrs. Capito regarding the submission of a report on 
the implementation of the Office of Rural Health;
  An amendment by Mr. Garrett of New Jersey regarding funding for 
extended care facilities;
  An amendment by Mrs. Drake regarding a report on pending disability 
benefit claims;
  An amendment by Mr. Brown of South Carolina regarding a report on 
ALS;
  An amendment by Mr. Hall of New York regarding awards for certain VA 
employees;
  An amendment by Mrs. Musgrave or Mr. Salazar regarding the Pinon 
Canyon maneuver site;
  An amendment by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas regarding medical centers in 
underserved urban areas;
  An amendment by Mrs. Blackburn regarding e-commerce;
  An amendment by Mr. Donnelly regarding implementation of GAO 
recommendations related to claims processing;
  An amendment by Ms. Harman or Mr. Upton regarding purchase of light 
bulbs;
  An amendment by Mr. Pearce regarding reimbursement of travel expenses 
for VA employees;
  An amendment by Mr. Conaway or Mrs. Drake regarding deficit spending;
  An amendment by Mrs. Capito regarding interoperable medical records;
  An amendment by Mr. Moran of Kansas regarding funding for VA medical 
services;
  An amendment by Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida regarding funding for 
the Gainesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
  An amendment by Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico regarding funding for 
service dogs for disabled veterans;
  An amendment by Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico regarding funding to create 
a commission concerning women veterans;
  An amendment by Mr. Moran of Kansas regarding funding for certain VA 
offices;
  An amendment by Mr. Smith of Nebraska or Mr. Salazar regarding 
funding for the VA Office of Rural Health; and
  An amendment or amendments by Mr. Edwards regarding funding levels.
  Each such amendment may be offered only by the Member named in this 
request or a designee, shall be considered as read, shall not be 
subject to amendment except that the chairman and the ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on 
Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies each may 
offer one pro forma amendment for the purpose of debate; and shall not 
be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in 
the Committee of the Whole.
  Each amendment shall be debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent. An amendment shall be 
considered to fit the description stated in this request if it 
addresses in whole or in part the object described.
  When the Committee rises and reports the bill back to the House with 
a recommendation that the bill do pass, the previous question shall be 
considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final 
passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with 
or without instructions.
  During consideration in the House of H.R. 2642 pursuant to this 
order, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the 
Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to such time as 
may be designated by the Speaker; and
  (2) House Resolution 480 is laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I rise to 
congratulate my very good friend from Vermont for moving through this 
so expeditiously. I want to say we are very supportive of moving ahead 
with this very, very important piece of legislation which is designed 
to focus on our Nation's veterans. We look forward to moving as 
expeditiously as possible to completion of this.
  Mr. Speaker, with that, I withdraw my reservation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?

[[Page 16003]]

  There was no objection.

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